Chapter 423 has Xiao Jiujiu!
Compared to Ushijima Mitsuru, who was in a state of embarrassment but with a hint of excitement about getting what he wanted, the 18th Division Lieutenant General Sadao Ushijima, the commander of the 18th Division, was still drinking tea more than 20 kilometers away. It will be much easier.
The headquarters of the 18th Division is located six kilometers away from the front line. It is built of logs. Although it is a bit crude and rough, a low table is placed in the all-wooden room, some incense is lit, and a pot of tea is boiled. There is still a bit of leisure and tranquility.
The Japanese army lieutenant general, neatly dressed in the uniform of a lieutenant general, sat on the edge of a low table and sipped tea. He was not at all anxious about the stalemate on the front line.
"Your Excellency, the division commander, the 36th Infantry Brigade called back. They will continue to pursue the Chinese and express their gratitude to your Excellency, the division commander and our division for their help!" An army colonel respectfully drank tea while watching. Ushijima Sadao reported on the map on the table.
"Oh? Such a low profile! It seems that Mitsuru Ushijima is also in a hurry!" Ushijima Sadao, whose face was originally calm and leisurely, said with a slight smile. "Come on, Mr. Xiaoteng, sit down and try the chrysanthemum tea from Kyushu that I brewed. It is most suitable for drinking in this late autumn season."
"Your Excellency, Division Commander" The Japanese colonel sitting across from the younger man obviously did not have the spirit of the division commander, and instead had a bit of anxiety on his face.
After attacking for 6 consecutive days and inflicting huge casualties, they only advanced four kilometers. As the chief of staff of the 18th Division, how could Megumi Kofuji remain calm?
If Ushijima Sadao hadn't been much higher in official rank and military rank than him, he might have asked his soul long ago: "Do you have a brain injury? We have trouble fighting the Chinese ourselves, why go and help those idiots in the Sixth Division do it?" What a mess!”
“Haha, it seems that Koto-kun is quite critical of me sending the Omura Regiment to help the 36th Infantry Brigade!” Ushijima Sadao looked at his Chief of Staff who was hesitant to speak, and a smile appeared on his face again.
"Yes, Your Excellency, Division Commander, our division has been fighting fiercely with the enemies of the Jiashan Defense Line for six days. The infantry losses have exceeded 3,000, which is actually the highest number since the beginning of the war. In the past two days, our division has also used all its strength to attack the Chinese. On the defensive line, the Omura Regiment is the elite of our division and is indispensable.
I really don't understand why at this critical moment, the elite of the division were deployed to assist the 36th Infantry Brigade, when they faced only a few thousand enemies. "Xiao Tenghui didn't hide his doubts and said directly.
"Xiaofuji-kun, let me ask you, why has our division been in reserve every time since the war started? In the Kwantung Army, our division is a reserve, and in the Tenth Army, our division is also a reserve." Ushijima Sadao did not He answered his chief of staff's question head-on, but asked rhetorically.
“Perhaps it's because our division is a new army!” Hearing Ushijima Sadao's question, Xiaofuji Megumi also showed annoyance on his face, but he could only answer honestly.
In war, of course you will not be reconciled to being a reserve force.
And if you know the history of the development of the Japanese Army, you may better understand the reluctance of these two senior officers of the 18th Division of the Japanese Army.
After the Meiji Restoration, the modern Japanese army began to develop. Four towns were first established. Under Japan's policy of enriching the country and strengthening its army, it was quickly expanded to six.
These 6 towns were reorganized into divisions in 1888. Together with the Guards Division, there were a total of 7 units. These were the first strategic units of the Japanese Army.
As a result, Japan's national policy of "enriching the country and strengthening the army" was reversed one by one and became "strengthening the army and enriching the country", and it quickly embarked on the path of expansion. Especially after defeating China's decadent feudal dynasty in 1895, Japan gained a huge amount of Compensation could continue to expand, and six more divisions (7th to 12th divisions) and three more brigades were added.
By 1903, the Russo-Japanese War caused Japan to suffer from the shortage of soldiers, and it was forced to withdraw its only two reserve divisions.
After the war, Japan desperately expanded its military. By 1915, Japan had formed 21 divisions, including the Guards Division, and several independent brigades and regiments, with a total strength of well over 300,000.
Such a huge army put great pressure on Japan, which was not wealthy. In the 11th year of Taisho (1922), Prime Minister Yamanashi reduced the brigade structure of each division from 4 squadrons to 3 squadrons; in 1925, General Ugaki He also advocated the abolition of four divisions, namely the 13th, 15th, 17th and 18th divisions. After these two rounds of disarmament, there are still 17 divisions left in the Japanese military structure. These 17 divisions are called standing divisions.
Unfortunately, the 18th Division, which does not have a very long history, is one of the ones that has been reduced and is not qualified to be called a permanent division.
However, the four reduced divisions have a large number of remaining troops and reserve soldiers, as well as a large number of trained non-commissioned officer school students and reserve officers. Once Japan needs to expand the scale of the war, each division can quickly form a new division. In the future, the number of divisions can be doubled and the number of soldiers can be expanded several times in a very short period of time.
Especially the 18th Division, which took on the name of a permanent division after its "resurrection", is actually just a special division, a special division of the 12th Division, and has no relationship with the original 18th Division. Not big.
The so-called "Imperial Double 13" was also established by the former 18th Division. It has nothing to do with the 18th Division led by Ushijima Sadao, and will naturally be looked down upon by the commanders of the dispatched armies.
This was naturally unacceptable to Ushijima Sadao, who was ambitious and wanted to make great achievements.
"Yes! Because our division is a new division, we did not go to Kunshan where there are more Chinese troops. When we came here, Commander Yanagawa Heisuke ordered us to open this road to the Chinese capital. In fact, We just hope that we can threaten the rear flank of the Chinese army to contain the forces. All the main attacks are still in the direction of Kunshan, even if the troops are really approaching Jinling City." Ushijima Sadao's eyes showed chills for the first time.
"If we want to change this situation, our army can only sweep away all resistance along the way and reach the hinterland of the Chinese with overwhelming force. And this is very difficult to achieve with the strength of our division alone. If we join the 36th Infantry Brigade , then maybe it's different.”
“Your Excellency, the division commander, is that Mitsuru Ushijima agrees to assist our division as a deputy? He is a notoriously stubborn guy.” Kofuji Megumi was slightly surprised.
"He was unable to defeat the enemy for several days in a row and lost several important officers as a result. Without the assistance of our division, the Chinese he was chasing might have been able to join their main force and escape. How dare he want to be the commander of the Sixth Division? Don't agree?” A confident look appeared on Ushijima Sadao's face. "Speaking of which, I have to thank the Chinese for forcing a dignified Imperial Army Major General to ask me for help in such a humble manner."
"If we get the help of the 36th Infantry Brigade, our division will definitely be able to create brilliant achievements under the leadership of the division commander." Koto Megumi was so tempted by the pie drawn by his lieutenant general division commander that he was so excited that he A little concerned.
"But an infantry brigade of the Omura Infantry Regiment is still responsible for guarding the Sixth Heavy Artillery Brigade. Now that they have all been transferred, the Sixth Heavy Artillery Brigade is protected only by their own infantry. If there is an enemy attack, the infantry of our division will be protected." The main force is all on the front line, I'm afraid.”
"Xiao Tengjun, you are thinking too much. The Chinese only have three infantry divisions available in this area. How can there be any troops that pose a threat to the artillery positions behind our division? Besides, the heavy artillery brigade itself still has two infantry divisions. Squadron, even if a few Chinese attack them, are they just a bunch of pigs?
If they are really pigs, then pigs are meant to be killed and there is no need to exist in this world anymore. "The cold light flashed in Ushijima Sadao's eyes again.
"Hi, I understand what the division commander means." Seeing that Ushijima Sadao had already made up his mind, Kofuji Megumi no longer worried.
“In this way, the empire's military destiny will last forever!” Ushijima Sadao raised his tea cup.
“The Empire may have long-lasting military fortunes!” Xiaofuji Megumi also raised his tea cup.
The Japanese generals who were enjoying the moment when the reserve force was about to transform into the main force did not know that in the woods more than 20 kilometers away from them, a young Chinese soldier also pointed to a certain place on the map: "Here is a threat to our defense line. The largest Japanese army's Sixth Heavy Artillery Brigade is located.”
(End of this chapter)
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